The First Book of Esdras

⭑ King James Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 2 -

In the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, that the word of the Lord might be accomplished, that he had promised by the mouth of Jeremy;

The Lord raised up the spirit of Cyrus the king of the Persians, and he made proclamation through all his kingdom, and also by writing,

Saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians; The Lord of Israel, the most high Lord, hath made me king of the whole world,

And commanded me to build him an house at Jerusalem in Jewry.

If therefore there be any of you that are of his people, let the Lord, even his Lord, be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem that is in Judea, and build the house of the Lord of Israel: for he is the Lord that dwelleth in Jerusalem.

Whosoever then dwell in the places about, let them help him, those, I say, that are his neighbours, with gold, and with silver,

With gifts, with horses, and with cattle, and other things, which have been set forth by vow, for the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem.

Then the chief of the families of Judea and of the tribe of Benjamin stood up; the priests also, and the Levites, and all they whose mind the Lord had moved to go up, and to build an house for the Lord at Jerusalem,

And they that dwelt round about them, and helped them in all things with silver and gold, with horses and cattle, and with very many free gifts of a great number whose minds were stirred up thereto.

King Cyrus also brought forth the holy vessels, which Nabuchodonosor had carried away from Jerusalem, and had set up in his temple of idols.

Now when Cyrus king of the Persians had brought them forth, he delivered them to Mithridates his treasurer:

And by him they were delivered to Sanabassar the governor of Judea.

And this was the number of them; A thousand golden cups, and a thousand of silver, censers of silver twenty nine, vials of gold thirty, and of silver two thousand four hundred and ten, and a thousand other vessels.

So all the vessels of gold and of silver, which were carried away, were five thousand four hundred threescore and nine.

These were brought back by Sanabassar, together with them of the captivity, from Babylon to Jerusalem.

But in the time of Artexerxes king of the Persians Belemus, and Mithridates, and Tabellius, and Rathumus, and Beeltethmus, and Semellius the secretary, with others that were in commission with them, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote unto him against them that dwelt in Judea and Jerusalem these letters following;

To king Artexerxes our lord, Thy servants, Rathumus the storywriter, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges that are in Celosyria and Phenice.

Be it now known to the lord king, that the Jews that are up from you to us, being come into Jerusalem, that rebellious and wicked city, do build the marketplaces, and repair the walls of it and do lay the foundation of the temple.

Now if this city and the walls thereof be made up again, they will not only refuse to give tribute, but also rebel against kings.

And forasmuch as the things pertaining to the temple are now in hand, we think it meet not to neglect such a matter,

But to speak unto our lord the king, to the intent that, if it be thy pleasure it may be sought out in the books of thy fathers:

And thou shalt find in the chronicles what is written concerning these things, and shalt understand that that city was rebellious, troubling both kings and cities:

And that the Jews were rebellious, and raised always wars therein; for the which cause even this city was made desolate.

Wherefore now we do declare unto thee, O lord the king, that if this city be built again, and the walls thereof set up anew, thou shalt from henceforth have no passage into Celosyria and Phenice.

Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the storywriter, to Beeltethmus, to Semellius the scribe, and to the rest that were in commission, and dwellers in Samaria and Syria and Phenice, after this manner;

I have read the epistle which ye have sent unto me: therefore I commanded to make diligent search, and it hath been found that that city was from the beginning practising against kings;

And the men therein were given to rebellion and war: and that mighty kings and fierce were in Jerusalem, who reigned and exacted tributes in Celosyria and Phenice.

Now therefore I have commanded to hinder those men from building the city, and heed to be taken that there be no more done in it;

And that those wicked workers proceed no further to the annoyance of kings,

Then king Artexerxes his letters being read, Rathumus, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest that were in commission with them, removing in haste toward Jerusalem with a troop of horsemen and a multitude of people in battle array, began to hinder the builders; and the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians.

In the (a)first year of King Cyrus of the Persians, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremy might be accomplished,

the Lord stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of the Persians, and he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also by writing,

saying, “Cyrus king of the Persians says: The Lord of Israel, the Most High Lord, has made me king of the whole world,

and commanded me to build him a house at Jerusalem that is in Judea.

If therefore there are any of you that are of his people, let the Lord, even his Lord, be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem that is in Judea, and build the house of the Lord of Israel. He is the Lord who dwells in Jerusalem.

Therefore, of those who dwell in various places, let those who are in his own place help each one with gold, with silver,

with gifts, with horses, and cattle, beside the other things which have been added by vow for the temple of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.

Then the chief of the families of Judah and of the tribe of Benjamin stood up, with the priests, the Levites, and all whose spirit the Lord had stirred to go up, to build the house for the Lord which is in Jerusalem.

Those who lived around them helped them in all things with silver and gold, with horses and cattle, and with very many gifts that were vowed by a great number whose minds were so moved.

King Cyrus also brought out the holy vessels of the Lord, which Nabuchodonosor had carried away from Jerusalem and had stored in his temple of idols.

Now when King Cyrus of the Persians had brought them out, he delivered them to Mithradates his treasurer,

and by him they were delivered to (b)Sanabassar the governor of Judea.

This was the number of them: one thousand gold cups, one thousand silver cups, twenty-nine silver censers, thirty gold bowls, two thousand four hundred ten silver bowls, and one thousand other vessels.

So all the vessels of gold and of silver were brought up, even five thousand four hundred seventy-nine,

and were carried back by Sanabassar, together with the returning exiles, from Babylon to Jerusalem.

(c)In the time of King Artaxerxes of the Persians, Belemus, Mithradates, Tabellius, (d)Rathumus, Beeltethmus, and (e)Samellius the scribe, with their other associates, dwelling in Samaria and other places, wrote to him against those who lived in Judea and Jerusalem the following letter:

“To King Artaxerxes our Lord, from your servants, Rathumus the recorder, Samellius the scribe, and the rest of their council, and the judges who are in Coelesyria and Phoenicia:

Let it now be known to our lord the king, that the Jews that have come up from you to us, having come to Jerusalem, are building that rebellious and wicked city, and are repairing its marketplaces and walls, and are laying the foundation of a temple.

Now if this city is built and its walls are finished, they will not only refuse to give tribute, but will even stand up against kings.

Since the things pertaining to the temple are now in hand, we think it appropriate not to neglect such a matter,

but to speak to our lord the king, to the intent that, if it is your pleasure, search may be made in the books of your ancestors.

You will find in the chronicles what is written concerning these things, and will understand that that city was rebellious, troubling both kings and cities,

and that the Jews were rebellious, and kept starting wars there in the past. For this cause, this city was laid waste.

Therefore now we do declare to you, O lord the king, that if this city is built again, and its walls set up again, you will from then on have no passage into Coelesyria and Phoenicia.”

Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the recorder, Beeltethmus, Samellius the scribe, and to the rest that of their associates who lived in Samaria, Syria, and Phoenicia, as follows:

“I have read the letter which you have sent to me. Therefore I commanded to make search, and it has been found that that city of old time has fought against kings,

and the men were given to rebellion and war in it, and that mighty and fierce kings were in Jerusalem, who reigned and exacted tribute in Coelesyria and Phoenicia.

Now therefore I have commanded to prevent those men from building the city, and heed to be taken that there be nothing done contrary to this order,

and that those wicked doings proceed no further to the annoyance of kings.”

Then King Artaxerxes, his letters being read, Rathumus, and Samellius the scribe, and the rest of their associates, went in haste to Jerusalem with cavalry and a multitude of people in battle array, and began to hinder the builders. So the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until the second year of the reign of King Darius of the Persians.

Footnotes

(a)2:1 ℘ 2Chronicles 36:22,23; Ezra 1:1

(b)2:12 Another reading is, Simanassar.

(d)2:16 Rehum,

(e)2:16 Shimshai.